Franco (band)

History

Formed in 2008, FRANCO had its beginnings as a supergroup with members from iconic Filipino bands, consisting of Franco Reyes (InYo and Frank!) on vocals, Gabby Alipe (Urbandub) on guitar, 8 Toleran (Queso) on guitar, Buwi Meneses (Parokya ni Edgar) on bass guitar, and JanJan Mendoza (Urbandub) on drums. The band started as a collaboration project between Alipe, Toleran, Meneses and Mendoza, who are prominent musicians in the Pinoy rock scene. In late 2008, deciding to have a front man for their project band, Alipe, Mendoza, Toleran and Meneses collaborated with Reyes, who had returned to the Philippines from a stay in the U.S., thus completing the band, Franco. In 2009, they recorded songs that comprised Franco's first album. Upon the release of the first album in 2010, their songs quickly became hits and topped the charts. The band dominated the 2010 NU Rock Awards with 4 awards and 9 nominations. They were also nominated and won an award in the 2010 Awit Awards. However, in 2012, Alipe, Meneses, Toleran and Mendoza left the group, with Reyes persisting to continue. Recruiting new bandmates, FRANCO, now a principal act, released their sophomore studio album in 2013, entitled Soul Adventurer. In 2018, they released another full-length album Flight with 10 original tracks, including Aurora Sunrise and Lost in Your Universe.

Music

FRANCO's musical roots are traced to a Cebu-based band named Frank!, formed by Reyes in 1996, which is credited for having boosted the Cebu rock scene. However, despite reggae-leaning songs originally composed by Reyes for Frank!, the latter music of Franco became considerably heavier. Two Franco songs — “Touch the Sky” and “Song for the Suspect — have Rastafarian messages.

Mainstream success

In 2010, they released their self-titled full-length album under MCA Music. Music videos for “Castaway” and “This Gathering” were aired on the Filipino music channel, Myx. FRANCO also dominated the 2010 NU Rock Awards by winning four awards—Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for “This Gathering”, Album of the Year for their self-titled album, and the Listeners' Choice Award. The supergroup also won an award during the 2010 Awit Awards as the Best Performance By A Group Of Recording Artists - "Castaway", and was also nominated for the Best Performance By A New Group Of Recording Artists - "Castaway" and Best Rock/Alternative - "Castaway". The band was nominated numerous times for the MYX Music Awards.

In 2013, Soul Adventurer was released as the band's second album. With the new lineup on board, the group won Best Alternative Recording (Awit Awards) for the song Better Days.

On November 9, 2014, FRANCO launched an EP titled Frank! at the St. James Power Station in Sentosa, Singapore.

Band members

Current members

• Franco Reyes – lead vocals, guitar (2008–present)
• Paul "Poldo" Cañada – guitar (2012–present)
• Dave Delfin – bass (2012–present)
• Victor Guison – drums (2012–present)

Former members

• Gabby Alipe – guitar, vocals (2008–2012)
• Paolo "8"/"Ocho" Toleran – guitar (2008–2012)
• JanJan Mendoza – drums (2008–2012)
• Buwi Meneses – bass (2008–2012)

Discography

Studio Album

• Franco (2010)
• Soul Adventurer (2013)
• Flight (2018)

EP

• Frank! (2014)

Track listing

Franco (2010)

Soul Adventurer (2013)

Flight (2018)

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. Tongson, Tomas. (2014-11-01). "Myx Features: Artists React To Franco Break Up".
2. Servando, Kristine. (2010-01-04). "Music review: Pinoy rock 'superband' Franco". ABS-CBN News.
3. "Franco Suspitsados Official Facebook page".
4. Tongson, Tomas. (2014-11-01). "MYX Features: OPM Rock Superband FRANCO, Disbanded?".
5. Tongson, Tomas. (2014-11-01). "Awit Awards Official List of Winners".
6. Tongson, Tomas. (2014-11-01). "Awit Awards Website".
7. "Franco Superband Official Facebook page".
8. (October 30, 2010). "Franco lords over 17th NU Rock awards". Manila Bulletin.